Do you believe that cardio exercise is the best way to burn fat? If so, you’ve fallen victim to one of the biggest weight-loss myths there is!
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. 71 percent of people do cardio workouts, which you should be, but 56 percent believe that cardio is what burns the most fat. That’s not necessarily true; it all depends on the intensity. A half hour workout on the elliptical will help you burn calories and increase your heart-health, however, if you’re staying at the same intensity for the duration of the workout, it’s not nearly as effective at fighting fat as it could be. Surprising your body with bursts of high intensity intervals as well as strength training are what really burns the fat during and long after your workout.
In one study, as few as three 11-minute strength training sessions a week increased metabolism and the number of calories burned during sleep! Similar effects are seen with high intensity intervals. So next time you find yourself on a cardio machine, jack up the intensity every 2 minutes for 30 seconds, for some serious fat burning power.
The second myth is believe that exercise is your best weight-loss weapon. 71 percent of adults agree that the best way to lose weight permanently is through exercise. Yes, exercise is an important component to a weight-loss plan, but you have to pair it with the right diet plan for long-term weight loss. The truth is, exercise alone only leads to a 3 percent reduction in total body weight. If you’re not cutting calories, it will be very difficult to keep the weight off.
Think about it: one candy bar has about 300 calories. It would take an hour walking on the treadmill to burn that off! To achieve effective weight loss, you absolutely have to pair exercise with a healthy diet plan.
